State to pay $100,000 to refurbish West Brookfield fountain

The 23-foot-tall fountain, which normally towers over the Town Common at Routes 9 and 67, was dismantled and taken in November to Alabama for restoration at an estimated cost of $128,000.

About $28,000 was raised for the transport alone, and fundraising was under way for the remaining $100,000, but Tuesday night state Sen. Stephen M. Brewer, D- Barre, and state Rep. Anne M. Gobi, D-Spencer, showed up at the selectmen's meeting to announce a state allocation of $100,000 for the project.

“I don't think there's a more beautiful town common than West Brookfield's,” Mr. Brewer told selectmen.

The $100,000 has been included in the state budget, according to the state Department of Administration and Finance.

“It is not easy to get these funds,” Ms. Gobi said.

Robert J. Richard, chairman of the town's Common Committee, which is overseeing the fountain restoration project, said in an interview before the announcement that the $100,000 will go along way toward having Robinson Iron of Alexander City, Ala., refurbish the fountain and return it to the Common in time for the start of the annual concerts there in July.

The fountain was a gift to the town by the late George Rice of Worcester. He was a native of West Brookfield and a one-time state senator who gave the fountain in memory of his parents.

In recent years, the fountain has fallen into disrepair and recently was cordoned off for fear parts of it would fall off and injure someone.